Digest

May 11, 2008|STAFF REPORTS

Pompano Beach

Pedestrian killed trying to cross Dixie Highway

A Pompano Beach man was killed when struck by a car while trying to cross North Dixie Highway Friday night, near Northeast Sixth Street. The man's 12-year-old son saw the accident, said Mike Jachles, Broward Sheriff's Office spokesman.

Michelien Charlestin, 48, was walking on the sidewalk along the west side of Dixie Highway while his son walked on the sidewalk on the east side of the street. Charlestin was struck about 10:45 p.m. as he tried to cross the street to join his son, officials said. They identified the driver of the car as Alan Johnson, 28, of Fort Lauderdale.

Johnson's 4-year-old daughter was also in the Mazda Protege, strapped into a car seat, when the accident happened, officials said.

Johnson and his daughter were not injured.

Davie

Man's body found floating in canal near van

The body of a man was found floating in a canal Saturday afternoon.

A passer-by called police just before 4 p.m. and said a body was in a canal near Southwest 30th Street and Pine Island Road, said Lt. William Coyne, spokesman for the Davie Police Department.

Coyne said an abandoned van was found near the body next to the canal, though it was unclear whether the man had been in the vehicle.

Coyne also said an officer remembered seeing a man fishing near the van the previous day.

Authorities had not identified the man Saturday night.

The Broward Medical Examiner's Office was investigating to determine how he died.

Broward County

Wexler, other officials to have town hall meeting

Broward County elected officials will conduct a town hall meeting, including a question-and-answer session, on Tuesday.

They plan to appear at 9:30 a.m. in the Cabaret Room of the Kings Point Clubhouse, 7620 Nob Hill Road, Tamarac.

The official purpose is for elected officials to meet with constituents. Two of the participants, U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler and County Commissioner Stacy Ritter, were two of Broward's earliest supporters of Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign. Condominium communities such as Kings Point are Hillary Clinton strongholds.

BLOG: Find more about local leaders' involvement in presidential politics on the Broward Politics blog at www.Sun-Sentinel.com/browardpolitics

South Florida

Man accused of showing porn, performing lewd acts

A West Palm Beach man is facing multiple charges accusing him of showing pornography to a child and performing lewd acts.

Michel Gonzalo, 32, was held in the Palm Beach County Jail on $450,000 bail. According to an arrest report, he showed the 10-year-old girl pornographic videos on at least 20 occasions, performed sexual acts in her presence and tried to persuade her to participate.

While being monitored by West Palm Beach Police, Gonzalo told the girl he planned to have sex with her and her friends, officers said.

Police say that on at least five occasions, Gonzalo asked the minor to have sex or to arrange for her friends to have sex with him. Gonzalo is on federal probation for crimes unrelated to the new charges, police said.

South Florida

Toddler found floating in pool, taken to hospital

A 2-year-old girl was rushed to a hospital Saturday afternoon after she was found floating in a backyard swimming pool west of West Palm Beach.

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue workers went to a home in the 6000 block of Fairgreen Road, where the girl was found unconscious. Paramedics felt a pulse and tried to revive the girl, said Teri Barbera, a Sheriff's Office spokeswoman.

The toddler remained in critical condition Saturday night at Palms West Hospital. Investigators were interviewing relatives and others about how the girl got in the water, Barbera said.

The child's identity was not released by hospital and police.

Drowning is the leading cause of death of children younger than 4 in Florida.